Minnesota
After stunner at Minnesota, Michigan has 4 losses by a combined 8 points
Michigan was denied a second overtime in Minneapolis when Dawson Garcia sunk a buzzer-beating shot from just inside half court. The Wolverines had their chances to make sure a shot like that didn’t matter.
But some recurring issues (plus a new one) doomed Michigan in Thursday night’s 84-81 loss to last-place Minnesota.
“We had said it coming in: ‘You can’t overlook anybody in this league,’” Michigan forward Will Tschetter said on the postgame radio show. “We obviously overlooked them tonight.”
‘Uncharacteristic’ offensive performance
The Wolverines entered the game leading the country in 2-point shooting at 63 percent. They shot just 17 of 40 (43 percent) inside the arc against Minnesota, with the figure even worse when considering only shots labeled in the box score as dunks or layups.
“Credit Minnesota; I thought they played with physicality,” Michigan coach Dusty May said on the radio. “I thought they put bodies on us. They collapsed on a lot of those drives. One of the reasons we’ve played so well at the rim is because when (teams) do collapse we’ve made the next pass and the next play, and tonight we challenged multiple bodies at the rim several times. That was just uncharacteristic of us.”
Several Wolverines missed shots at the basket they usually make. Starting center Vladislav Goldin entered the game with the top field-goal percentage among Big Ten players (63 percent). He made just 5 of 15 shots.
“Vlad’s played in a lot of basketball games and I’m just gonna chalk this up to (it) just wasn’t his night,” May said. “I thought he had several good looks that just didn’t drop. And on the nights when the ball is just not dropping, you can’t give up the offensive rebounds and you can’t turn it over. You just can’t do all those in the same game.”
Another close loss
Thursday’s three-point defeat was Michigan’s most lopsided loss of the season. Michigan’s four losses have come by a combined eight points.
Mistakes are magnified in games like that. Turnovers have been a problem for Michigan most of the season. Michigan’s total on Thursday (13) wasn’t egregious, but a sloppy start “set the tone” for the game, May said.
Midway through overtime, after Danny Wolf had set up Goldin for dunks on two straight possessions, something went awry on Tre Donaldson’s pass to Nimari Burnett, and the ball ricocheted out of bounds.
Michigan’s rebounding was also fine overall but not good enough in May’s eyes. The Golden Gophers grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, including one they had no business getting that led to a 3 to open the overtime scoring.
“Our defense, our ability to rebound the basketball when it really mattered was I think ultimately the difference,” May said.
Though more of a gut punch in the moment, close losses are a better sign for a team than blowout losses. And it’s not like the Wolverines haven’t been able to win any close games. They beat Wisconsin and Iowa by two points each, and trailed USC and UCLA in the second half before pulling away.
The bigger issue is that the Wolverines have blown double-digit leads in all four losses. They were up 10 with 12:50 to go on Thursday. They led Oklahoma by 11 in the second half, and held 13- and 15-point first-half leads over Wake Forest and Arkansas, respectively.
Michigan’s inability to put away Thursday’s game was especially surprising since Minnesota was 0-6 in the Big Ten.
Impressive homecoming
Though he didn’t sound thrilled to talk about it, Tschetter played well for Michigan in a homecoming game. The redshirt junior scored 15 points in 23 minutes off the bench. He made three 3-pointers and had 11 points in the first half.
“He’s consistent with his effort and energy,” May said. “(He) made some big shots. I thought he was poised around the rim. I thought he was a real bright spot.”
Tschetter is from Stewartville, a small town about 100 miles south of Minneapolis. The TV broadcast noted he had about 100 family members and friends inside Williams Arena on Thursday.
“Obviously it’s great to be able to come home and play in front of people that have grown up watching me,” Tschetter said. “But obviously ridiculously disappointed with a few things I did myself, the team, and just the overall game.
“We’ve just got to get back to the fundamentals of who we are, how we’ve won games in the past. Got to get back to being unselfish, rebounding the freakin’ basketball and just things like that.”
Michigan (13-4, 5-1) hosts Northwestern (11-6, 2-4) on Sunday. The Wildcats won on Thursday (at Maryland) on an overtime buzzer-beater.
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Minnesota
Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East
(FOX 9) – The Minnesota National Guard tells FOX 9 there are currently 250 guard members on regularly scheduled deployment at the United States Central Command areas of responsibility as the United States leads strikes in Iran.
Guardsman in Middle East
What we know:
The Minnesota National Guard says the deployed airmen and soldiers are serving from Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing, the Marshall-based 1-151 Artillery, and the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company.
What they’re saying:
“While their missions and duty locations vary, all are grateful for the strong support of those back home,” writes Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, State Public Affairs Officer for the Minnesota National Guard.
What we don’t know:
The guard did not disclose the exact bases or countries where the soldiers and airmen are serving.
CENTCOM covers 21 countries including: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Pres. Trump says Iran operations likely to last 4 to 5 weeks
Big picture view:
In his first public remarks since the launch of the attack on Iran, President Trump said he expected operations to last four to five weeks, but he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”
The president also laid out his objective for the mission: to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, to “annihilate” their navy, to ensure the country doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon and that the regime “cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”
Minnesota
U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities
Iranians in Minnesota react to Khamenei death
Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. While many Iranian-Americans expressed hope for regime change, anti-war protesters also took to the streets to condemn the military strikes, with some members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation calling the operation “unlawful” and “illegal.”
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East. Anti-war protesters also took the streets of Minneapolis Saturday.
Plus, Jewish communities say they are on high alert over concerns of potential retaliatory acts in major cities across the U.S.
‘Massive moment’
What we know:
Following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation in Iran, Khamenei was killed in an attack, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday.
What they’re saying:
Iranian community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street on Sunday to express hope for regime change.
Dozens of Iranian-Americans said they are celebrating the news.
“We are here to support Iranian people. Today, everybody is happy, very happy,” said Beheshteh Zargaran, an Iranian-American.
“Killed Khamenei, which was the supreme leader, and hopefully they will continue this action and help Iranians finally topple the Islamic regime,” said Faraz Samavat, an Iranian-American.
“That means a lot. We are fighting for almost half a century to destroy this cruel regime against people of Iran,” said Ali Mohammad, an Iranian-American.
Iranians in MN celebrate strikes by Pres. Trump
Iranians in the Twin Cities are gathering in downtown Minneapolis to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation. Community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street to express hope for regime change after news that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in Saturday’s airstrikes.
The other side:
Protesters also took to the streets in the Twin Cities over the weekend condemning the strikes.
Some people are criticizing the military operation including members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation. Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the strikes “unlawful” and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the war “illegal and unjustified.”
Heightened security:
Jewish communities in Minnesota say they are also on high alert following security guidance across the country to prevent potential retaliatory violence.
“A heightened sense of vigilance making sure that everybody is aware of their surroundings and that all of the protective measures are in place,” said Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
There are currently no known specific threats against local Jewish communities.
Minnesota
Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28
Storm reports in from Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 28.
LANESBORO, Minn. (FOX 9) – Impressive snow totals were reported in parts of Minnesota after a narrow band of heavy snowfall worked its way across the state.
Minnesota snow totals for the last day of February 2026
Snow totals for Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (FOX 9)
By the numbers:
Many areas saw more snow than was expected before temperatures warm up in the coming days.
The following snow totals were reported across Minnesota:
- Lanesboro: 10 inches
- Preston: 10 inches
- St. Peter: 7 inches
- Stewartville: 7 inches
- Caledonia: 6 inches
- Nicollet: 6 inches
- New Ulm: 5.5 inches
- Rochester: 4.9 inches
- Mankato: 4.5 inches
The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast and the National Weather Service.
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